US Marines, sailors conduct air assault drill and battle the elements in Iceland

CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to retrieve U.S. Marines during a simulated air assault as part of exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Keflavik, Iceland, Oct. 17, 2018.

“Ultimately, we want to demonstrate the Navy-Marine team’s ability to respond faster from longer ranges with greater capabilities across the range of military operations than other conventional forces.”

During the air assault portion Wednesday, Marines loaded into CH53E Super Stallion helicopters and MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft aboard ships, landed near the coast of the island and secured the area by setting up a bridgehead for further operations.

Next the Marines are heading inland to conduct cold weather training among Iceland’s jet-blue glaciers.

As Iceland has no standing armed forces of its own, American troops are being aided by Icelandic police and coast guard.

“[Iceland’s] landscape provides us with distinctive training opportunities, and we are appreciative to the government of Iceland for allowing us to conduct this portion of Trident Juncture in their country.” Rankine-Galloway said.

The Navy and Marines plan to continue amphibious operations in conjunction with Exercise Trident Juncture later this month in Norway, where a mock amphibious assault is planned.

About 50,000 NATO troops are taking part in this year’s exercise, the alliance’ largest exercise since 2002.